Ear suction cup



y 1931- L. R. ENGLAND 1,805,471

EAR SUCTION CUP Filed Aug. -15. 1929 V L-R E22 gland I I I Patented May 19, 193 1 I UNITED STATES LEE 3. ENGLAND, or CARTER; OKLAHOMA:

EAR sno'rro w our Application filed August 15, 1929'. Serial No. 336,017,; r J

5 able that suction be applied to the drum to prevent the exterior pressure thereon from pressing the same inwardly. This operation is desirable where infection of the Eustachian tube has caused a closing of the same. By the use of the present device the drum of the ear may be vibrated and particularly drawn out-' wardly to overcome the tendency to sink in formed in the tube or upon the side of the drum,

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the acaccompanying drawings forming a partof the present invention, with the understanding,

, however, that the invention is not confined to any strictjconformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention'as expressed in the appended claims. In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the ear suction cup embodying the present in vention. A Q v Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the same. Y

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken through the valve upon the wall there- 0 r Referring more particularly to the dra'wings, the numeral 1; indicatesgenerally the 7 4o improved jear suction cup embodying the present invention; This cup is formed ofrubber and is of circular cross section, as shown,

the wall 2 thereof being of generally cylindrical formation and having one end edge provided with the enlarged rim 3 which projects slightly and the same distance beyond the inner and outer surfaces.

At the opposite end Ofxtllfi portion 2 the cup is closed by the substantially semispheris cal head 4, the wall jof' which is slightly to normally force thesame outwardly.

heavier" than the' wall 2 o the body p per.

Placed within the portion 2 of the cup is a metal linerg5 which is of cylindrical formation 'andvrests atone end upon the inner part of the rim 3 and extends to the point where the top or head'l begins, as shown.

Housed within the head 4 ,is a conical shaped -spring6,-the lowerportion of which may besuitably attached either in the Wall of the head, or to the adjacent edge of the metal liner, the'latter construction being here shown and indicated bythe numeral 7 due to the outside pressure and at the same time break away any adhesions that may be The wall portion 2 .of the cup is provided with the passage8 and upon theouter face there is formed a valve 90f any suitable type, the'valve here shown being in the 'form of, a split sphere which may be formed'integral with'the-cup body and which may be opened for the admission of air to the cup by compressingthe same at opposite ends of the acts to'create a partial vacuum in the cup so that a pull'is exerted upon the drum of the f ear.

' While I have shown and described a'valve which will'prevent the passage of air only in one directionit will, of course, be understood'thatI do not wish to be limited in any manner to this type of valve for other types of valves may be employed for controlling the passage 'of air in either direction when the cup is to beused for vibrating the eardruim Having thus described myfinvention, 'what I claim is 2-- f I v 1. A suction cup, comprising 'a substantially cylindrical-hollow resilient body, a revingt 'e edge of the body at the other end thereof, ametal reinforcing liner within the cylindrical portion of the body, and resilient means supporting the dome-like end thereof 2. A suction cup, comprising a substantially cylindrical hollow resilient body, a resilient dome-like head closing one end of the body, a relatively broad soft rim surrounding the edge of the body at the other end thereof, a metal reinforcing liner within the cylindrical portion of the body, resilient means supporting the dome-like end thereof to normally force the same outwardly, and a valve opening through the wall of the body.

3. A suction cup of the character described, comprising a molded rubber body having a cylindrical portion open at one end and having the edge of said open end, of materially greater thickness than the wall of the body, a dome shaped wall closingthe other-end of the body and of slightly greater thickness than the same, said body having'a valve in the wall thereof and comprising an integral hollow enlargement of the wall having. a slit therein designed to be opened by compression of the enlargement from points adjacent the ends of the slit, said hollow enlargement communicat ing with the interior of the body through an adjacent aperture in the'wall of the latter, arigid reinforcing element within the body, and a spring element interposed between said rein-forcing element and the inner surface of said dome shaped end wall and normally tending to force the same outwardly.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

LEE R. ENGLAND. 

